October 11, 2012, 10:39PM

Dr. Robert Gates, former Secretary of Defense receives set of shuttle pins at the Leadership Huntsville/Madison County 25th Anniversary Program at the Von Braun Center North Hall Thursday evening Oct.10th in Huntsville, Ala. (Bob Gathany/bgathany@al.com)

October 11, 2012, 10:39PM

Dr. Robert Gates, former Secretary of Defense speaks at the Leadership Huntsville/Madison County 25th Anniversary Program at the Von Braun Center North Hall Thursday evening Oct.10th in Huntsville, Ala. (Bob Gathany/bgathany@al.com)

October 11, 2012, 10:39PM

Dr. Robert Gates, former Secretary of Defense answers questions from Dave Hargrove at the Leadership Huntsville/Madison County 25th Anniversary Program at the Von Braun Center North Hall Thursday evening Oct.10th in Huntsville, Ala. (Bob Gathany/bgathany@al.com)

October 11, 2012, 10:39PM

Dr. Robert Gates, former Secretary of Defense answers questions at the Leadership Huntsville/Madison County 25th Anniversary Program at the Von Braun Center North Hall Thursday evening Oct.10th in Huntsville, Ala. (Bob Gathany/bgathany@al.com)

October 11, 2012, 10:39PM

Dr. Robert Gates, former Secretary of Defense speaks at the Leadership Huntsville/Madison County 25th Anniversary Program at the Von Braun Center North Hall Thursday evening Oct.10th in Huntsville, Ala. (Bob Gathany/bgathany@al.com)

October 11, 2012, 10:39PM

Dr. Robert Gates, former Secretary of Defense answers questions from Dave Hargrove at the Leadership Huntsville/Madison County 25th Anniversary Program at the Von Braun Center North Hall Thursday evening Oct.10th in Huntsville, Ala. (Bob Gathany/bgathany@al.com)

October 11, 2012, 10:39PM

Dr. Robert Gates, former Secretary of Defense answers questions from Dave Hargrove at the Leadership Huntsville/Madison County 25th Anniversary Program at the Von Braun Center North Hall Thursday evening Oct.10th in Huntsville, Ala. (Bob Gathany/bgathany@al.com)

October 11, 2012, 10:39PM

Dr. Robert Gates, former Secretary of Defense speaks at the Leadership Huntsville/Madison County 25th Anniversary Program at the Von Braun Center North Hall Thursday evening Oct.10th in Huntsville, Ala. (Bob Gathany/bgathany@al.com)

October 11, 2012, 10:39PM

Dr. Robert Gates, former Secretary of Defense speaks at the Leadership Huntsville/Madison County 25th Anniversary Program at the Von Braun Center North Hall Thursday evening Oct.10th in Huntsville, Ala. (Bob Gathany/bgathany@al.com)

October 11, 2012, 10:39PM

Dr. Robert Gates, former Secretary of Defense speaks at the Leadership Huntsville/Madison County 25th Anniversary Program at the Von Braun Center North Hall Thursday evening Oct.10th in Huntsville, Ala. (Bob Gathany/bgathany@al.com)

September 18, 2012, 3:45PM

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- As Leadership Huntsville/Madison County marks its silver anniversary with a celebratory dinner next month, it's particularly appropriate that the speaker will be former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. His decades of service to the United States span the nation's difficult recent years - from the terrorist attacks of 9/11 through the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan -... Full story »

October 03, 2011, 8:14AM

Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Chuck Malone picked up a major endorsement in his bid for a full term on the state’s highest court. The Alabama Civil Justice Reform Committee, which represents a coalition of state business groups, announced it will back Malone in next year’s election. Malone, a Republican from Tuscaloosa, was appointed chief justice by Gov. Robert Bentley... Full story »